If you are a budget-friendly, savvy saver type of traveler or simply just want to make sure not to overspend during your trip even though you’ve allotted a budget, here are 10 ways to save money while on vacation. Some people like to splurge and go all out when they’re on vacation (after all, it is a vacation!), there are still those who like to spend a reasonable amount that they’ve budgeted specifically for their travels. These tips will help you have options to save, while still having an adventure-ful and memorable time. However, keep in mind that you might need to use a little more effort and actually have the intention of trying to save money while on vacation.
- Avoid tourist traps! Areas catered to or created for tourists are friendlier in the sense that they understand what you like, speak your language, and just generally have things to entice a visitor to want to spend. But usually, these things are not representative of what the country or city is actually like. You won’t see locals participating in these activities and it doesn’t really tell you what their culture is about. Everything from food and entertainment to excursions and souvenirs are priced much higher than if you were to do something that was local. There’s no harm in browsing and getting a feel of the environment just to see what it’s about though! Oftentimes, the local experience (especially the food), is much better than you can expect.
- Skip the souvenirs. Souvenirs can be fun, but a lot of times you end up bringing home much more than anticipated with all the shopping you do. Take photos instead and create your own memorabilia when you get home for yourselves or loved ones. Of course, there are some items that could be a must-have, or unique to the place you’re visiting. If so, limit yourselves with either the amount you’re willing to spend or the amount of items your purchase. Personally, I almost never buy souvenirs. I do however, love buying snacks to bring home from certain countries for myself or friends and family. I take thousands of photos on my trips and that’s enough for me. Plus, I really just don’t want to bring home items I’ll never look at again or have sit there to collect dust. I also try to minimize how much I own so souvenirs would defeat the purpose for me. It’s also not really a thing in my family to have to buy things to gift, even on special occasions most of the times. My husband on the other hand, loves buying little souvenirs everywhere he goes for himself, and his family. They love getting something different from every country he goes to. So of course, to each their own.
- Tour the city by foot if possible. I absolutely love walking everywhere and I can walk all day when visiting a new country especially if I’m in the right attire. This is because I can stop whenever I want and spend a little more or less time in certain places. If I’m in a vehicle, I pass by places so quickly and almost always never get to stop and see something that caught my eye. No doubt this will take a lot more energy and time, but it will definitely save you money on transportation and you’ll be able to get some exercise in. You don’t even have to walk everywhere, you just have to opt to walk sometimes instead of ordering an Uber out of convenience.
- Be your own tour guide! Instead of hiring a tour guide, do your own research and map everything out. That way, you can see exactly what you want to see and skip the ones that you don’t. And since everything is online these days, there’s not much that you can’t find out. If you’re staying at a hotel, concierge could be your best friend since they’re usually supposed to know about everything in the area. They may even give you local tips or insights that you actually might not find online. This way, you save money from not having to pay for a tour guide’s time, the transportation they provide, and service tip. If anything, reward yourself for a self-guided tour and for learning so much on your own! Also, sometimes getting “lost” can be quite fun and an adventure in itself.
- Look for free local activities. Depending on which major city you’re in, you can find Free Walking Tours. I’ve used this when I visited New Orleans, USA and it turned out to be great! The tour guides are very knowledgeable and friendly. It was also surprising that they offer so many different tours for free in over 120 countries. Also depending on where you are, sometimes they offer free museum and gallery visits as well. If you have a press pass, you can usually visit for free too. When touring a city, there’s a good chance you’ll see local or street performances too. To be honest, I’ve seen that in almost every country I’ve been to and it’s quite entertaining. You also get to know the culture a little better that way. There are so many options for you to choose from – libraries, religious buildings, food markets, and more. You don’t always have to pay to have a good time. Sometimes, it’s the things you stumble upon without planning for it.
- Don’t pay full price for excursions if you don’t have to. If you haven’t booked an excursion prior to arriving, look for discount codes (www.retailmenot.com is great) or sales if possible. The hotel you stay at can occasionally offer discounts or provide coupons as well. When booking online, I usually like using Viator as the prices are pretty good. Or you can book a budget tour on Free Walking Tours as well. Depending on the country or area you’re in, there may only be a select few recommended tour companies. If you’re purchasing an excursion in person, do a little bit of shopping around. There will be tons of tour companies that offer deals and a lot of the times you can even negotiate the price. Don’t always take the first offer that comes to you. Do some research on what the tour you’re looking at should generally cost so you don’t get ripped off. Also, just be alert when booking something in person, especially if you’re newer to traveling.
- Do groceries and cook instead of eating out all the time. Not only is it healthier, but it helps you save. Of course, you’ll have to stay at an AirBnB or a hotel that has a kitchenette. For example, making your own breakfast and coffee every morning rather than ordering at a restaurant helps you not only save money while on vacation, but time as well. You can just leave your accommodations as soon as you’re done and start exploring. After all, you do only have a limited amount of time when you’re on vacation.
- Order local beer. Local made is always cheaper and well-loved. Having a local brewery saves a lot of money on importing fees. A lot of the times, they don’t export local beer in certain countries so it can only be found there, which makes it extra special.
- Bring snacks and a water bottle with you. Not saying to use this as a meal replacement, but to help energize you and keep you from getting hangry before you get to sit down and eat somewhere. Bringing your own water is a huge money saver since in some countries, water is much more expensive than alcohol. I’ve been in situations where I’ve really needed water and in the moment of where I was, getting some much needed H2O was just not possible. It’s important to stay hydrated as you’re active throughout the day as well, especially if you’re in tropical destinations. One of the things I always do when I’m traveling is buy large jugs of water when I’m at a grocery/convenient store to keep at my accommodations. Not only is it safer drinking bottled water sometimes, but I can have enough for whenever I need it. I can also refill my travel bottle before I leave for the day. Buying water throughout the day can get very expensive and you’ll want to save on this expense when traveling.
- Get a tax refund at the airport before you board your flight. As usual, this depends on the country you’re in. Different countries will have different rules and allowances. Such as a certain amount spent or types of products on which you can claim. Currently, 53 of 130 countries that impose GST/VAT taxes will allow you to get tax refunds. You can get the full list here, but I’d advise to check the website of the country you’re visiting to be sure of the exact details and what the process looks like. Sometimes, you’ll have to present the sales associate your passport for them to enter your information into their system. Then they can provide you a tag or documentation to go with your sales receipt as proof. Don’t forget to get to the airport early and have all your documentation together as there is usually a line for all the people who know this money-saving trick!
Download this free printable Pre-Trip Planner and Checklist to and check out The Ultimate Guide To Planning Your Trip Abroad as you plan your vacation!